Taliban commanders say they have managed to smuggle over two dozen militants they broke out of a prison in northwest Pakistan to one of the group’s strongholds in the country’s tribal regions.

The two commanders told The Associated Press by phone on Wednesday that 25 militants have arrived in the South Waziristan tribal area and will from there to North Waziristan, Pakistan’s main sanctuary for Taliban and al-Qaida militants.

They said Monday night’s jailbreak in the town of Dera Ismail Khan was codenamed Freedom from Death, cost 11.5 million rupees ($115,000) and took six months to plan. Eighteen of the 150 militants who took part were given special commando training.

Police official Salahuddin Kundi said 41 of the 252 prisoners who escaped have been captured.